I think that most folks knee Jerk reaction to an End of the world situation is based upon the Media (TV, Movies, books...) Gun and Run mentality. That's OK as long as you can get up after you've been killed, once the cameras have stopped rolling that is. BUT I still feel that in a REAL Bug Out situation, you will live longer KNOWING you are the rabbit in a world full of ravenous Wolves.
I once (well OK, SEVERAL times) have read a book called Tunnel in the Sky.
"Tunnel in the Sky is a science fiction novel written by Robert A. Heinlein and published in 1955 by Scribner's as one of the Heinlein juveniles. The story describes a group of students sent on a survival test to an uninhabited planet, who soon realise they are stranded there. The themes of the work include the difficulties of growing up and the nature of man as a social animal."
Full Wikipedia Synopsis:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunnel_in_the_SkyAnyway, in one part of the book the main Characters sister is a commander of some Scouts (military type) and she said when she sends someone out on a scouting only mission she will ONLY allow them to carry a knife. That way they know they must rely on Not being seen and Not being heard. Whereas if they had a firearm of some sort they would be more inclined to use it to get out of a situation instead of an intelligent withdrawal. This has ALWAYS stuck with me.
